American Christian Contemporary music artist and worship leader Chris Tomlin will perform at 7 p.m. Thursday at the Sanford Center. Tickets are on sale now at the Sanford Box Office (441-4031) and prices are $22 each or $18 each for groups of 15 or more.

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Third Thursday events

Third Thursday with Arts Downtown in Park Rapids will feature pianist Jason Wright, who will be performing a blend of sacred, familiar and Irish music from 5-5:30 and 6-6:30 p.m. at Bella Caffé, 116 3rd St. W. His CDs will be available for purchase and signing.

A new band, Better Than Nothin' (Alex Ziemann, lead guitar and vocals; Roger Fenzel lead singer and guitar; Jerry Snow on bass guitar and vocals and Brian Hitchcock on drums and vocals) will play classic rock 5:30-6 and 6:30-7 p.m. at the Good Life Café, 220 S. Main Ave. This activity is funded in whole or in part by a Region 2 Arts Council grant through appropriation by the Minnesota State Legislature Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund, passed by Minnesota voters on Nov. 4, 2008.

Bell(e) Collective

The Bell(e) Collective with Sarah Paradis and Stephanie Frye will be performing at 7:30 p.m. Friday at the Thompson Recital Hall in the Bangsberg Fine and Performing Arts Complex on the campus of Bemidji State University.

The duo performs a variety of brass literature, including works from Charles Small, Dmitri Shostakovich and John Stevens. They tour and teach master classes across the Midwest and will perform at the International Women's Brass Conference in Michigan this June.

A trombonist, Paradis is an associate professor of music at BSU and Frye is a tuba instructor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She frequently performs as principal tubist in Wisconsin-based orchestras, including the Manitowoc Symphony.

Monroe Crossing is the only Bluegrass Band ever nominated as the Minnesota Music Academy "Artist of the Year" and it received an award for "Bluegrass Album of the Year."

Tickets are on sale now at Kelsey's Jewelry, Brigid's Cross Irish Pub, Overbeek Electronics and Music or by calling 209-7884. Tickets are $20 each. If available, tickets will be sold at the door starting at 6:30 p.m. the day of performance.

BSU concert

The BSU Spring Choir Festival will feature the Varsity Singers, BSU Choir, Chamber Singers and the Men's and Women's groups. The concert will begin at 7:30 p.m. Saturday in Thompson Recital Hall.

A selection of the pieces will include "Thy Truth Within" by Leland Sateren, "Ascendit Deus" by Jacob Gallus, "In Mirth and in Gladness" by Fredric Niedt, "Gloria" by Jeffrey Richard, "Our Father" by Alexander Gretchaninoff, "Ye Shall Have a Song" by Randall Thompson and "Rainsong" by Houston Bright.

Regional Arts Events

Photographer Cal Rice with "View from the Top: The Beauty of Bhutan" will appear in a program of Adventures in Lifelong Learning Spring Semester from 10-11:30 a.m. Tuesday at Beltrami Electric Cooperative in its Community Room, 4111 Technology Drive NW. This program is free and open to the public.

Common Ground is a program which explores the creative process and cultural events in our region. On this week's episode, viewers will visit the Red Lake Boys & Girls Club fishing event where the "Bass Busters" learn the power of traditional values. Carol Harrison, a harpist from Brainerd and her students will give a demonstration of harps. Pam Collins of Staples uses a variety of materials and a sense of humor to create mosaic images. The program will begin at 7 p.m. on Thursday and repeated at 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, 6 p.m. on Sunday and 12:30 p.m. on Tuesday. This program is made possible by the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.

Workshops

A watercolor workshop using the wet-on wet technique with Marion Reil will be held from noon to 4 p.m. March 17 at Gallery North. No experience is necessary and all materials will be provided by the instructor. Register now at Gallery North and the fee is $45.

Installations

Bemidji Community Arts Center, 426 Bemidji Ave. N., has on display, "Art from Within," a collection of artwork from people who want to express their feelings and understanding for what the Bill of Rights means to them. BCAC is open from noon to 5 p.m. Saturday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday.

Bemidji Public Library, 509 America Ave. NW, has an exhibit of paintings from the Advanced Placement Students of Art Teacher Kristin Gustafson from TrekNorth. The Library is closed on Sunday.

Cabin Coffeehouse and Café, 213 Third St. NW, has on display the photographs of AJ Dombeck. The Cabin is open seven days a week.

Fleur de Lis Gallery, 501 Bemidji Ave. N, is open whenever the sign is out front of the building and has on display the work of local and regional artists.

Gallery North, 502 Third St. NW, has a display of Artists of Minnesota mini-show traveling show of art work from across the state. Featured gallery artist of the month is Jeannie Fenner. The gallery is closed on Sunday.

Headwaters School of Music and the Arts, 519 Minnesota Ave. NW, is hosting an exhibit of a body of works by the Artists of Studio 10; an eclectic mix of acrylics, oils, watercolors and mixed media. The exhibit is open during regular HSMA business hours.

Neilson Place, 1000 Anne St. NW, is hosting an exhibit of work by Kathy Gustafson and Pat Shough entitled "Flora and Fauna." Neilson Place is open for viewers until 8 p.m. daily.

Wild Hare Bistro and Coffeehouse, 523 Minnesota Ave NW, has on display the work of local artist Sarah Nordlund and her vibrant acrylic paintings. The bistro is closed on Sunday.

Upcoming events

Auditions for "Paul Bunyan the Musical" will be available for students in fourth grade through high school. Auditions will be 4:30-7 p.m., March 20-21 at Wild Rose Theater. Performances will be Aug. 3-5 and 9-11.

Home Free, an a capella choir, will be performing at the final performance of the 2011-12 competition shows of Vocalmotive and La Voce Bello. The concert will be held on two consecutive nights. At 7 p.m. March 23 the concert will also feature an exhibition of the middle school group Pizzaz. On March 24, the middle school group JIVE will join the program. Tickets are $12 each and available now at both Lueken's Village Foods locations and Overbeeks.

Auditions at Long Lake Theater for summer productions are March 26-27. Visit the website longlaketheater.net for more information.

Announcements of arts and entertainment events may be sent to the Bemidji Pioneer, P.O. Box 455, Bemidji, MN 56619-0455 or e-mailed to news@bemidjipioneer.com.